Scotland hits highest number of alcohol-related deaths since 2008 – Minimum Unit Pricing doing a sterling job in Scotland then…

15 comments

  1. >The rate of deaths from alcohol in the most deprived communities is
    higher than that in the least deprived communities, which has **stayed at a**
    **fairly consistent level for the last** **20 years**.

    It’s OK in Ireland, though. The gubberment will make sure that MUP will not let that happen to the Paddies.

  2. I wish the government would just tell us the truth. MUP was about increasing the price of cans in the hopes some of us would go fuck this shite, it’s not that more expensive to drink in the pub, may as well go for a few pints in my local pub or buy my cans in the off license the publican owns to avoid the queues at Lidl.

  3. The government knew it doesn’t work. They only done it for one reason and one reason only. The same reason for every other bs tax they come up with. Money. It’s not to protect the vulnerable from becoming alcoholics. It’s to transfer money from the poor to the rich.

  4. Most alcohol related deaths are from long term drinkers not habits developed since the introduction of MUP. The average age of alcohol related deaths was around 58-59.

  5. Anecdotal but most of my friends and I certainly do drink less owing largely to the cost of it.

    The problem is that those who are most in need of reducing their alcohol intake (alcoholics basically) are also those who for various reasons can’t/won’t do so.

    It’s made a big impact to how people I know drink so maybe it’s somewhat successful in its aims.

  6. The average age of people dying of alcohol related causes was 60. It takes years of alcohol abuse to.kill you, MUP was introduced 4 years ago.

  7. [https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l5274](https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l5274)

    This study shows that it did reduce alcohol purchases in households.

    The problem is it doesn’t differentiate whether those households were buying a large amount weekly vs a low amount weekly.

    I know for instance, My father reduced his drinking after MUP came in. He went from having 4 tins at the weekend to two, out of annoyance at how his once cheap cans now cost him 4 euro more. It did decrease the amount purchased by the group surveyed BUT my father isn’t a heavy drinker.

    The said it was targeted towards heavy drinkers BUT did it actually influence that demographic or just tight feckers like my Dad ?

  9. Honestly it’s a wonder there’s so many junkies, a lot of very broken and damaged people out there and they’re gonna get away from reality one way or another, and if drugs are cheaper then there you go, it’s not rocket science.

  10. Looking at Scotlands demographics I reckon that number will continue to rise as that boomer bulge will have a greater proportion of lifelong drinkers than younger generations.

    It’s more a warning against doing nothing.

  11. Alcohol consumption has been dropping for years within younger age groups. They didn’t need to do anything.

  13. The whole thing encapsulated how absolutely braindead this government is in general. Anyone who spent half a minute thinking this idea through would see it would not make the slightest difference and would in fact harm more people than it helped. So they are either grossly incompetent and stupid, or they are malicious and bear no real connection to the people they represent. Either way, it’s a sign they’re not fit for the job. Imagine how much more braindead shite they’re trying to get through – looking at you, Roderick o Gorman

  14. Finally, something I’m qualified to talk about (Scottish lad here).

    The minimum unit pricing has not changed people’s drinking habits here one iota. I was in my teens when it came in and it didn’t stop young drinkers with barely any disposable cash. It certainly never stopped working adults back then, and it definitely hasn’t over the past couple of years when people have drank more in an attempt to mentally escape the horrors of COVID/the cost of living crisis/the sickening Tory government.

    If anything it’s just contributed to people’s cost of living woes and general sense that everything is increasingly becoming a rip off.

  15. I buy poitin from a neighbour, he’s also started brewing his own beer. It’s very nice. Charges me a few euro, well below the shop rate. Tradesmen are always offered cash in hand. I always feel like I’ve won when I avoid paying tax.

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